Business

Of all the Hackett Key Issues Studies conducted in the last five years, the 2013 edition shows the greatest year over- last change in priorities for both performance and capability-related issues. As companies adapt their operating models to the globalized business environment, business support functions are impacted in many ways.

This is Norfolk Southern’s fifth annual corporate sustainability report. It discloses the railroad’s significant environmental, economic, and social impacts to provide stakeholders a way to assess our commitment to corporate sustainability.

The transportation system that supports the movement of freight across America is facing a crisis. Our highways, railroads, ports, and waterways require investment well beyond current levels to maintain – much less improve – their performance. Millions of jobs and our nation’s long-term economic health are at risk.

In this first of a three-part report, Transportation Reboot describes what is changing in America and why those changes demand new transportation capacity. Future segments address the capacity increases required to meet the burgeoning freight demand, and to access the economic might of rural America.

Rural states are essential to the nation’s success, not only to meet the needs of their own citizens, but also to maintain their part of the national network on which the U.S. economy depends. Highways across rural states also serve as a “bridge” for traffic between population centers for people and freight.

Infrastructure enhancements such as the National Gateway are critical for rail transportation to help create jobs, promote growth and sustain the environment.

Two executives of an electronic waste recycling company were convicted in December of smuggling, environmental crimes, mail and wire fraud, and obstruction of justice in conjunction with the illegal export of hazardous waste to China and other countries, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado. By Amber Road

Brick & mortar retailers in the grocery, mass and specialty categories have weathered tumultuous years with decreasing sales and increasing pressure from online peers. While e-commerce is not a fading trend, there exists widespread opportunity for improved performance of retail supply chains which will help brick & mortars compete in the new retail landscape.

The availability of downstream data has never been higher, but the efforts to use it are stalled. The answer lies in rethinking processes end-to-end to use the data. The answers fly in the face of traditional thinking and will require active stewardship by manufacturing leaders that understand why it is important to drive outside-in processes.

Group News Editor Jeff Berman recently spoke with Vitran Corporation President and CEO Rick Gaetz about the North American less-than-truckload (LTL) market, Vitran’s recent divestiture of its Supply Chain Operation (SCO) 3PL subsidiary, and the freight economy, among other topics.

Crocs Inc., a worldwide shoe manufacturer, disclosed in its 10-K filing last week that the company may owe up to $36.2 million in fines to U.S. and Mexico Customs and taxing authorities. By Amber Road

Companies positioned for growth often face a strange dilemma. The prospect of retrofitting, expanding or building a new facility is good news, but then comes the hard work of moving between operations as they are and operations as they could be. Multi-million dollar projects promise increased capabilities, but also threaten calamitous failure.

Maersk Line, the world's largest ocean container shipping company, has contracted with GT Nexus to provide Maersk Line’s customers with advanced e-commerce capabilities.

Global poll of over 1,000 executives reveals that the e-commerce giant is more admired than its Californian rival on all major supply chain attributes except innovation.

The organizations and authors have teamed on this white paper to drive clarity around outsourcing business models and to help procurement, outsourcing professionals and commercial managers understand and use the appropriate sourcing business model to maximize their desired outcomes.

What happens when a world-class company discovers one of its key functions is less than world class? For software giant Microsoft, the answer is simple. They fixed it. In 2006, Microsoft embarked on a complete reengineering of its major global finance processes and operations.

Modern Supply Chain Management is a phenomenon that has developed over the past 20 years. An understanding of supply chains is important to the Kettering community. Anything we engineer or develop will require a supply chain to source, produce, and deliver to a user.

The era of air cargo transportation began with modern aviation in the early 20th century. Airlines across the country flew freight in the late 1920s, benefiting American businesses when they needed parts or merchandise as quickly as possible. The advent of air freight also allowed businesses to keep less inventory on hand.

A new Roadmap for U.S. Robotics was presented to the Congressional Caucus on Robotics on March 20. The new Robotics roadmap, organized by the Robotics Virtual Organization, includes updates to the sections on manufacturing, healthcare/medical robotics, and services.

During Retalix Synergy 2012, a panel of the world's top leading retailers discussed how the traditional, point-of-sale-centric store environment is evolving into a multi-channel or omni-channel model that delivers a consistent shopping experience across all customer touch points, including the retailer's website, its physical store and its mobile shopping channel.